Beetroot Pulao

The pulaos are the best for packed lunches and a one pot meal.
This can be made previous night to avoid all the hazzles in the morning rush.
My son loves all the pulao rice.
Though this is made with beetroot, trust me it doesn't taste sweet at all, in the final product, it tastes like any other pulao.
Beetroot has a lot of iron content and good for growing children and for the grown ups..Best of all, it is very tasty and suits all palate.
This pulao has very few ingredients and can be made in less than 1/2 hour and can served with any raita or even papad.

Ingredients:
Basmati Rice - 2 cups(washed and soaked for 20 minutes),
Oil - 11/2 tablespoons,
Bay Leaf - 2,
Onion - 1 large chopped,
Beetroot - 1 cup grated,
Tomatoes - 3 medium chopped,
Salt,
Turmeric - 1/2 teaspoon
Water - 31/2 cups boiling,
Garam Masala Powder - 1/2 teaspoon,

To Grind:
Cinnamon - 2 inch peice,
Cloves - 5,
Cardamom - 1,
Saunf - 1 teaspoon,
Green Chillies - 6-8,
Coriander leaves - 1 sprig,
Mint leaves - 2 sprigs,
Ginger - 2 inch piece,
Garlic - 5 cloves.

Method:
Grind the ingredients under grinding table with water to a smooth paste and keep aside.
In a broad pan heat oil.
Add bay leaf and after few seconds, add onions.
Fry onions until translucent and add grated beetroot and fry.
When the beetroot starts to turn white(approximately after 3-4 minutes of frying). add tomatoes.
Fry tomatoes until cooked and mushy.
Add ground paste and fry for couple of minutes.
Add boiling water, salt, garam masala powder, and turmeric.
Stir well.
Drain water completely from rice and add to boiling water.
Cover and cook, until rice is completely cooked and fluffy.
Serve with Raita or Papad.